"Our youth need to have a safe place that I had when I was a child here," said Aliyah Abullah, a spokeswoman for the I Am Ready Foundation.

The foundation is teaming up with Stockton City Councilman Michael Tubbs and Hollywood producer/blogger Jason Lee to create the Reinvent Stockton Readiness Initiative.

It's an effort to use star power to draw students in and then follow up with activities that help change habits.

"We want to create a platform that would inspire them to come see us, with all these celebrities in the background," said Lee, a Stockton native. "Then use it to continue to send a message of service and leadership."

Tubbs hopes the plan will create a culture of change for the students -- and in doing so, improves their lives in Stockton.

"My interest is not in changing the image of Stockton," Tubbs said. "The image is what it is. I am really passionate about changing Stockton. Once the youth have opportunity, once they can make money, once there are going to college, there is no need to change the image. The image changes itself."

The group also announced that next month, April 19, it will hold a youth conference.

Group members hope to draw in 10,000 students.

And among those names expected to attend and speak with students is pop singer Jordin Sparks.